Reawakening of the Gardener for all Seasons

Three weeks ago – in Kuala Lumpur with 34 degrees C and 80% humidity. Blink twice and the garden plants have doubled in size. A slight exaggeration but not much when discussing plants growing in a tropical climate.

The seasons? Poorly marked they are by at most 2-4 degrees temperature variation with the most noticeable being the different sun arcs. My place with the backyard in complete shade during winter while in full sun for the remainder of the year.

The biggest seasonal job? Moving a few sun sensitive tub plants. That was it and could grow the veges year round and plants would flower at all sorts of different times.

Now am some 6,800 kilometres south in Hobart Tasmania and midway through winter.

The winter landscape of dead looking shrubs and trees has been a shock to the system as the concept of deciduous plants has not been a part of my life for almost 30 years. I had to remind myself that they are not dead but dormant.

Have been checking daily on some Bearded Iris I planted some three weeks ago yet still no signs of above ground growth. I may as well be watching paint dry. Willing them to grow during the depths of winter won’t change the cold of winter soils.

Patience is the only way when back in the cool temperate regions.

There are sure signs that Winter is in the latter half with daffodils and hyacinths appearing a few weeks ago from their underground winter womb. The daffodils are forming flower buds and should open in the next few days.

Soon after arriving in Hobart I dreamt of feasting the eyes on a patch of tulips, something that was a garden staple some thirty years ago. It was quickly realised that Dad’s garden was devoid of the favoured bulb and off to the nursery I eagerly went to buy some.

It was a chastising and to a certain extent humiliating experience when the nursery person admonished me for asking as I should have been tulip bulb hunting some two months ago.

Tail firmly between the legs I retreated with a wry smile at my knowledge loss of basic bulbs and winter planting jobs and swore to get back on the bike, so to speak.

What have I been doing the last two weeks? Vigorously reading up on preparation, seed sowing and planting for seasonal vegetable crops. Is almost time to tune up the soil with a bit of dynamic lifter, sow the seeds and finalise climbing frames for the beans and peas.

The vege menu will include French beans, Broad beans, Snow Peas, Silver beat and/or Spinach, Pink Eye Potatoes (in tubs) and will be testing out chili and capsicum as well.

Will rev up the herbs especially two parsley varieties.

Fruits include strawberries already growing and currently winter protected in a shade house. Hopefully the Apricot tree will have a bumper crop this year.

I am excited as none of the above veges and fruits apart from chili have been part of my plant life for well over ten years as tropical climate is not conducive to them.

After the mad but structured rush of the next four to six weeks, then it becomes a time for patience waiting on that mouth watering moment to pluck and crunch a bean or pea off the vine or to pull the Pink eye spuds in time for Christmas Day food festivities.

Strawberries should be producing reasonably quickly but the Apricot crop won’t be tasted until late March into April.

A bit of fertiliser here and there, judicious watering, bit of vine training to the lattice and occasional de-bugging are the ongoing jobs at hand. Soothing plant growing love words will top off the tender loving care of natures bounty.

My transition from tropical seasonal nonchalance to a gardener for the Tasmanian seasons will be complete.